sew :: thrift :: crochet :: create

September 19, 2009

handmade eases the pain

Lately we've had a string of household bad luck that included 2 fender-benders, 4 cavities, a broken air conditioner, and a very leaky dishwasher. All of the above have been repaired save my dinosaur of dishwasher. This means, of course, that I have been washing. dishes. by. hand. until we can replace it. Ugh. This task may not bother some but for me it is the most despised household chore. I've used a dishwasher my entire adult life and only hand washed the rare pot or pan I couldn't squeeze in.

Lucky for me this little baby arrived on my doorstep and brought with it plethora of handmade ideas for the home.

I used Amanda's Towel Rug idea to create a little piece of eye candy that makes dish washing a bit more tolerable.

Both the towel and the pillowcase I used were thrifted and cost less than a $1 together (can you believe that a plastic dish mat costs $10). That makes this project about as thrifty as can be. And it took less than an hour to piece the whole thing together. Quick and cheap with beautiful results. I. love. it.

I'm still not rushing over to sink to do the dishes but I really enjoy glancing over and seeing my handmade treasure while I'm doing them.

(The crocheted circles perched on the edge of my sink are for scrubbing the dishes. I got the idea from this post on Craftzine.)

So thank you, Amanda Soule, for reminding me that even the worst parts of domesticity can be enjoyed with a bit of handmade. It is so gratifying to look around my home and see the things I have made myself being used and enjoyed. These little touches are what make a house our home.

Comments

Heather,

I really enjoyed reading your blog!In fact, I went back to the beginning to read your earlier posts and to get caught up. Your crafts and home decorating are charming and I love all your pictures of your garden, crafts, family adventures and especially your pictures your beautiful children! (and the clothes you have made for your little ones are so inventive, functional, and fun. Dave Ramsey would be proud of you, girl!)

TypePad HTML EmailThank you so much! I'm glad you liked it. I haven't been able to devote as much time as would like to the blog or sewing but hopefully that will change now that I'm done with school. See you at work.

I hate doing dishes, too! I didn't have a dishwasher until I was 22.
My parents' had a ancient dishwasher but it was more of a placeholder in the kitchen than an actual appliance. My dad refused to replace it because he thought washing dishes built character. I've decided that my character does enough building without doing dishes by hand and I will always have a dishwasher.
P.S. You're dish rug is super cute!

Love the dish mat -- I found you through the Soulemama site. I've been working on a bath mat myself. I've added your site to my blog favorites, hope you don't mind. -- The Jolly Bee (thejollybee.blogspot.com)

TypePad HTML EmailThank you so much. I still consider myself new to sewing because I've olny been doing it for about 3 years now. I've learned everything mostly from all the creative blogs out there. Feel free to poke around as much as you like.

It did workout, however, I changed it out about
every other time I washed dishes and threw it in the wash. My dishwasher has
since been replaced. Nowthe mat resides under the cats water bowl. So far,
no mold.